Patents by Inventor Laura E. Keck

Laura E. Keck has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20220341072
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of making a nonwoven fabric of continuous fibers that includes forming a nonwoven web on a highly porous woven or knitted forming fabric that defines a pattern of recesses that are bordered by spaced apart filaments extending between the outer surfaces of the fabric and that allows air to pass both downwardly and sidewardly through the forming fabric. Bonded nonwoven webs are formed having protrusions with very low density and high surface area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: Laura E. Keck, John H. Conrad, Susan E. Shawver
  • Patent number: 11427942
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of making a nonwoven fabric of continuous fibers that includes forming a nonwoven web on a highly porous woven or knitted forming fabric that defines a pattern of recesses that are bordered by spaced apart filaments extending between the outer surfaces of the fabric and that allows air to pass both downwardly and sidewardly through the forming fabric. Bonded nonwoven webs are formed having protrusions with very low density and high surface area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Laura E. Keck, John H. Conrad, Susan E. Shawver
  • Publication number: 20210277557
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of making a nonwoven fabric of continuous fibers that includes forming a nonwoven web on a highly porous woven or knitted forming fabric that defines a pattern of recesses that are bordered by spaced apart filaments extending between the outer surfaces of the fabric and that allows air to pass both downwardly and sidewardly through the forming fabric. Bonded nonwoven webs are formed having protrusions with very low density and high surface area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Laura E. Keck, John H. Conrad, Susan E. Shawver
  • Patent number: 9457115
    Abstract: There is provided a sterilization indicating tape having a breathable and liquid impervious film, wherein the tape is printed with a sterilization indicator ink. The tape is compatible with a wrap polymer for recycling. The tape is used to hold a wrapped package closed so that it can be sterilized and stored. The ink changes color upon sterilization to show the user that the package has been subject to sterilization. The tape is desirably made from the same or a similar polymer to the wrap polymer so that they may be recycled together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Avent, Inc.
    Inventor: Laura E. Keck
  • Publication number: 20140356963
    Abstract: There is provided a sterilization indicating tape having a breathable and liquid impervious film, wherein the tape is printed with a sterilization indicator ink. The tape is compatible with a wrap polymer for recycling. The tape is used to hold a wrapped package closed so that it can be sterilized and stored. The ink changes color upon sterilization to show the user that the package has been subject to sterilization. The tape is desirably made from the same or a similar polymer to the wrap polymer so that they may be recycled together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Laura E. Keck
  • Patent number: 7517166
    Abstract: An applicator includes a tubular structure having a front panel that includes a liquid impermeable material and an outer liquid permeable cover material. A plurality of discrete pockets are formed between the cover material and the liquid impermeable material. A composition is contained within the pockets and, in use of the wipe, the composition migrates through the cover material during use of the applicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Laura E. Keck
  • Patent number: 5464688
    Abstract: There is disclosed a nonwoven web for use as a barrier layer in an SMS fabric laminate. The web is formed at commercially acceptable polymer melt throughputs (greater than 3 PIH) by using a reactor granule polyolefin, preferably polypropylene, that has been modified by the addition of peroxide in amounts ranging from up to 3000 ppm to reduce the molecular weight distribution from an initial molecular weight distribution of from 4.0 to 4.5 Mw/Mn to a range of from 2.2 to 3.5 Mw/Mn. Also the addition of peroxide increases the melt flow rate (lowers viscosity) to a range between 800 up to 5000 gms/10 min at 230.degree. C. The resulting web has an average fiber size of from 1 to 3 microns and pore sizes distributed predominantly in the range from 7 to 12 microns, with a lesser amount of pores from 12 to 25 microns, with virtually no pores greater than 25 microns, and with the peak of the pore size distribution less than 10 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Terry K. Timmons, Peter Kobylivker, Lin-Sun Woon, Laura E. Keck, Jerald T. Jascomb
  • Patent number: 5389068
    Abstract: A tampon applicator is disclosed for inserting tampons into a woman's vagina. The tampon applicator is an elongated, tubular member made from an injection moldable or extrudable material. The tampon applicator comprises a water-dispersible thermoplastic polyester containing an ionic metal salt substituent. The tampon applicator is constructed from a water-dissipatable polymer having carbonyloxy-linking groups in a linear molecular structure. The polymer comprises a reaction product of at least one difunctional dicarboxylic acid, at least one diol, and at least one difunctional sulfomonomer containing at least one metal sulfonate group attached to an aromatic nucleus having the functional group carboxyl. The tampon applicator is water dispersible, compostable, dimensionally stable, and substantially nonsticky when contacted by mucous membranes or other moist human tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventor: Laura E. Keck